Apparatus for taking fingerprints



Feb. 22, 1927. 1,618,432

. l. E. HITT APPARATUSFOR TAKING FINGERPRINTS Filed Ju'nel, 1926 INVENTOR f' 1 ir/Efiii' Patented eb. 22, 119276 rears IVAN E. HITT, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR TAKING- FINGERPRINTS.

Application filed June 1,

v This invention relates to improvements in devices used in connection with the identification of criminals and suspects, such identification in all modern establishments including the f aking and recording of the prints of all the fingers of both hands of the person. The finger prints are taken by means of a plate of glass or similar material on which ink is smeared; the operator rolling the fingers of the person whose prints are to be taken, one at a time, on the plate and then impressing the inked finger on a piece of paper disposed adjacent the plat-e. The plates are small for the sake of convenience and therefore in taking prints of both hands the person is not in the correct position relative to the plate for either one hand or the other and the plate or the person must be shifted accordingly. Further, as will be evident, the heights of the persons being identified vary considerably. At present however the glass plate is merely mounted in a definite position or laid on a shelf or table of fixed height, so that the persons niust accommodate themselves to this fixed height. If the ink plate is fixed, the persons must also move from one side to the other in order to conveniently enable their right and left hands to be placed on the plate at different times. If the plate is free, the operator pushes the same back and forth and fouls his hands with the ink. Further, with a free plate, so much pressure may be put on the same by a nervous or obstreperous prisoner as to cause the plate to topple from the shelf, especially if the plate is projected beyond the edge of the shelf. This latter feature however is very desirable, since persons having misshapen hands or stiffened fingers otherwise have difficulty in straddling the thickness of the shelf and plate combined. The above features are very unsatisfactory in devices of this character which deal almost entirely with prisoners who are mostly of anti-social tendencies. In other words, the taking of their finger prints is done against their will and they have an instinctive resentment to being under the orders of the officers of the law. The present method therefore of having the prisoner stretch or cramp himself to accommodate his hands to a plate mounted at a fixed height; and of being moved back and forth by the attendant in order tobring his hands in proper relation 1926. Serial No. 112,755.

to the plate, merely increases the resentment which he feels and very frequently makes him stubborn to handle.

The principal object of my invention therefore is to eliminate the above defects in the present identification apparatus, by providing for a movable yet rigid ink plate and a vertically adjustable shelf on which the plate is mounted, and from the front edge of which the plate projects to present a thin edge to-the hand. The plate is moved by the attendant from a point to one side of the shelf, and the shelf is also raised or lowered by him according to the needs of the prisoner and without the latter having to shift his position at any time or be inconven ienced in the slightest. This not only has a tendency to leave the prisoner in a better frame of mind after identification proceedings have been completed, but lessens the work of the attendant and speeds up proceeding-s generallya factor of vital importance when a large number of prisoners is being handled. I

A further object of the invention is to arrange a cabinet in connection with the above features, said cabinet having drawers of different sizes in which the various implements used in connection with the device may be kept and in which the identification cards and other records may also be stored. I have also provided in addition to the shelf on which the ink plate is mounted another and independent shelf or desk at which the prisoner may sit to sign his name on the identification card, this being required on all records. The two shelves are adapted to fold down when not in use so that the cabinet may be placed in the middle of a room so that it is accessible from allsides and yet takes up but very little space when not in use.

It will therefore be seen that my complete apparatus provides a single unit in which all features necessary to identification purposes are accommodated so that they may be compactly arranged and within reach of the attendant with but very little movement on. his part being necessary;

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will beexoeedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

Th se objects I accomplish by means of -the *aippa'ratus. I Referring-now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral l'denotes a cabinetof suitable "size and "preferably of rectangular form and having at the back and in'one side "thereof ''a plurality of drawers 2 of suitable character'to receive identification cards, material and implements and accessories torbe used in connection with the apparatus. Mounted at the "front ofthe cabinet "and at the ends thereof are uprights 3 forming "vertical g'ro'oves 4 with the adjacent face of the cabinet. EXte'nding between and guided in the grooves 4 i's a vertical back member 5 from which, between the upr ghts 3, a narrow rigid shelf member 6 projects outwardly and horizoi'itally. Hinged onto "the outer edge of'the member 6 and projecting outwardly therefrom is the mainshelf member 7, which, whenin horizontal position, is alin'ed with the mcmber 6 so that the two together form a continuous "shelf. A rack structure 8 is mounted in connection with the member 5 above the member 6 to receive a supply of the cards or sheets of paper used in connection with the identifying operations.

Theshclf member 7 is normally held in an extended position by foldable brace means *9 of suitable character depending -therefron1 aiicl'connectecl attheir lower ends to thenhember 5 a suitable distance below the shelf. Fixed on the member 5adjacent the uprights 3 are vertical racks 10 which are "engaged by pinions 11 mounted on a common shaft 12 which is journaled onto the uprights 3. At the left hand end of said shaftthe same is formed with a'clutchstructur'e indica'ted generally at 13'tocoop jer'ate with the similarly'formed hub "of a removable crank handle 14. By means of this structure it will be seen that uponturning tliejsh'aft '12 one way or the other by means of the handle the niember 5, "together with the shelf suppo ted thereby, will be raised or lower-ed relative to the cabinet. To {hold "thef ine'mber "5 stationary at any level to which it may besetfby the turningof the shaft, 1 provide a horizontally movable "stop 'irieiriber 1.5 "which isfinounite'd in fixed connectitin "with fthe left hand upright; '3 and name- 1y Pres et een, s r adiac'ent teeth "or "the adjacent. rack --10. frets .st ememhe i withd wn rom between the rack teeth at will by means of a lever and link structure indicated at 16 which is connected to a :depressib'le pedal 17 mounted "on the upright 3 near the floor.

Slida-bly mounted between the hinged and outer edges of the shelf 7 is a longitudinal slide 18, arranged for movement longitudlnal'ly-of the shelf. This slide is flush With the shelf so that when contracted it forms a portion thereof, its outer end then being flush with the corresponding end of the shelf, asshown'in Fig. 2. Fixedontheslide intermediate its ends and projecting thence over the shelf T'to point somewhat beyond the'ou'ter edgethereof is a plate 19.

plate isremova'bly but non turnablyfmounted *of the slide andfthu's clainp the plate 19 in position. The plate also has suitable spaced depressions 23 which rest on the shelf (outwardly of the slide,so thatsaid plate is supported against deflection while at thes'a-m'e time the frictional resistance of said plate againstthe "shelf is notsufticierit to prevent the plate moving readily along the sh with the "movement of theslide. Theopp site 'side edges of the plate '19 are curled upwardly as at 24 to form guide member's"for a glass plate 25 on whiclftheiink for finger jprint purposes is received. The guidesof the plate 19 converge from from to back of said 'platesslightly, andthe glass plate is of similar form, 'so that it may be wedgingly yet removably fitted in it-hegi ide's fromthe frontend ofthe plate 19. This prevents the backward pressure naturally exerted by the fingers being impril'ited "from tending to shift the ink plate. The abilityw to store the glass plate, and protect the'saii'ie from dust "ahd from drying off, enables o ne'ap'plic ation ofink to last much longer thani's otherwisethe case.

In order to easily manipulate the slide, a knob or hand grip '26 projects upwardly from 'the same adjacent. its left 'han'd end. Dependingb'elow theshelf 7 is a horizontal. rod 27 which is supported from said shelf by swinging arms 28. This 'rod forms a convenient means forreceiving and holding the paper clamp 2 9 whennotinuse.

FMount'ed on the right hand side of the cabin'et"'and projecting outwardly therefrom is another hinged shelf 30. This shelf is folda'ble against the side of the cabinet, as shown ih Fig. 2. but is normally preterited from such folding movement by ffoldable bi acen'iernbers 31 ofsuitableeharacter.

In operation the person f whose, prints are to be taken stands felt a pbsit n in from fof the t eir 7 y (the latter ihei g. raised) "such that his lefthand is convenient to the ink plate 25 when the slide is retracted. The operator standing'atthe left of the apparatus then raises or lowers the shelf if necessary so as to bring it to a height convenient to the prisoner, removes the clamp 29 from the rod 27 and places said clamp over the outer edge of the shelf 7 with a sheet of paper thereunder on which the finger prints are to be marked. He'then proceeds to roll the various fingers of the prisoners left hand successively first on the ink plate and then on the recording sheet, as is customarily done. 'lhis done and without the prisoner having to shift his location, the operator slides the member 18 toward the right so that the ink plate is conveniently located with respect to the right hand of the pris oner. The finger printing operations are then repeated. 7

The finger print recording being done, the prisoner moves to a position adjacent the shelf 30 adjacent which he takes a seat so that he may use said shelf as a desk on which to sign his name to the print recording sheet. When the identification proceedings are completed the recording sheet may be placed in one of the drawers of the cabinet kept for the purpose, the clamp 29 is re turned to its position on the rod 27, while the glass plate is removed from its holder and placed in one of the drawers 2 along with the handle 14 and any other accessories which'may have been utilized in carrying out operations. The two shelves are then folded down so as to be out of the way of persons moving about the office in which the cabinet is located.

The shelf 7 in particular is metal covered, so as to be very easily kept clean.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a de vice as substantially fulfills the obj ectsof the invention as set forth herein. I

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail maybe resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for use in taking finger prints including a horizontal shelf, a sup? port for an ink plate mounted in fixed connection with the shelf, and means for moving the support longitudinally of the shelf.

2. An apparatus for use in taking finger prints including a horizontal shelf, means for adjusting said shelf vertically, a support for an ink plate mounted in fixed conneotion with the shelf, and means for moving the support longitudinally of the shelf.

8. An apparatus for use in taking finger prints including a horizontal shelf, a -supportfor an ink plate mountedinfixed connection with the shelf, the upper face of the support along the oppositeside. edges thereof transversely of the shelf having opposed X grooves to slidably receive the edges of the ink plate. 7 4. An apparatus for'use in taking finger prints including a horizontal shelf, means for adjusting said shelf vertically, means for enabling the shelf to be folded down regardless of its vertical position, and a support for an ink plate mounted in fixed connection with the shelf. I 5, An apparatus for use in taking finger prints including a horizontal shelf, a longitudinal slide mounted in connection with the shelf and disposed between the longitudinal edges thereof, and asupport for an ink plate fixed on the slide and projecting to the outer longitudinal edge of the shelf.

6. An apparatus for use in taking finger prints including a horizontal shelf, a longitudinal slide mounted inconnection with the shelf and forming a part thereof, said slide extending substantially the full length of the shelf, a support for an ink plate fixed on the slide toward one end thereof and projecting to the outer edge of the shelf, and a hand-grip on the slide adjacent the opposite end thereof.

7. In combination, a cabinet, a foldable shelf member mounted on one side of the cabinet, another foldable shelf mounted on another side of the cabinet, and a support for anink plate mounted in connection with the last named shelf.

8. An apparatus for use in taking finger prints comprising a vertical element, a vertical supporting member behind said element 1 and including guide means for the opposed vertical edges of the element, a horizontal shelf projecting outwardly from the element, and means between the element and supporting member for moving the element vertically. v v

9. An apparatus for use in taking finger prints comprising a vertical element, a vertical supporting member behind said element and including guide means for the opposed vertical edges of the element, a horizontal shelf projecting outwardly from the element, a vertical rack on the element, a turnable gear on the. support engaging the rack, and a releasable foot-actuated catch engaging the rack.

10. An apparatus for use in taking finger prints comprising a vertical element, a ver tical supporting member behind'said element and including guide means for the opposed verticaledges of the element, a horizontal shelf projecting outwardly from the element, and including an inner portion fixed onto the element and an outer portion hinged onto the inner portion, whereby said outer ill) 7 means between the element andv outer portion normallyepreventing folding of the shelhand means between the supporting members and element for moving the latter Vertically.

11. .A-n apparatus for use in takingitinger prints comprising a vertical element, a vertical su porting member behind said element and inc uding guidemeans for the opposed a 'ertical edges 'ot'rthe element, a horizontal shelf projecting outwardly from the element, and including an inner portion fixedonto the element and an outer portion hinged onto the inner portion, whereby said outer portion 1 may loe folded down, means normally preventing such, foldingmovement, means for moving the element vertically, a longitudinal slide incorporated with the outer shelf portion, and a support for an ink plate prints including a horizontalshelf, and a thin holder for remoyahly supporting .an ink plate rigidly mounted on the shelf andprojecting-beyond the forward edge thereof.

1-3. An apparatus for use in taking finger prints including a horizontal shelf, a clamp to straddle the shelf and-engage a recording sheet placed on the shelf, and a holder for supporting the clamp when not in use, mounted in conection with and under the shelf. Y g

14:. An apparatus for use in taking finger prints including a horizontal shelf, ,a V

shaped clamp to straddle the shelf and engage a recording sheet placed on the shelf,

.a rod extending lengthwise under the shelf to support the clamp when not 1T1. use,means for folding the shelf downwardly, and arms on which the rod ismounted depending from and pivoted on the shelf. In testimony whereof I aflix mysi-gnature.

IVAN E. nrirr. 

